daredevil
B2Informal, occasionally journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A person who enjoys and seeks out dangerous activities; someone who behaves with reckless boldness.
Characteristic of a daredevil; recklessly bold, adventurous, and thrill-seeking. It can be used as an adjective to describe a person, attitude, or action (e.g., a daredevil stunt).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term typically has a connotation of skillful, showy recklessness, not just foolish bravery. It often implies the person actively seeks thrills and performs dangerous acts for excitement or spectacle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The adjectival use (e.g., 'daredevil antics') is more common in American media.
Connotations
Slightly more often associated with entertainment, stunts, and motorsports in US usage, while UK usage can also extend to reckless public behaviour.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties, though used more frequently in tabloid journalism in the UK and sports/entertainment news in the US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun: The daredevil performed the jump.Adjective: He has a daredevil personality.Compound: She's a motorcycle daredevil.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have a daredevil streak in one.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The CEO was a financial daredevil, taking huge risks with company assets.'
Academic
Very rare in formal academic writing. Could appear in cultural/media studies discussing stunt performance.
Everyday
Common to describe children, friends, or drivers behaving recklessly: 'My brother is a complete daredevil on his skateboard.'
Technical
No specific technical usage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – 'daredevil' is not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A – 'daredevil' is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A – there is no common adverbial form 'daredevilly'. Use 'recklessly' or 'daringly'.
American English
- N/A – there is no common adverbial form 'daredevilly'. Use 'recklessly' or 'daringly'.
adjective
British English
- His daredevil approach to mountain biking finally caught up with him.
- She pulled a series of daredevil manoeuvres on her motorbike.
American English
- The show featured a daredevil skydiver performing without a backup chute.
- His daredevil investments paid off spectacularly this time.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child was a little daredevil on the playground.
- He is a daredevil.
- My friend is a daredevil who loves bungee jumping.
- She did a daredevil stunt on her bicycle.
- The young pilot's daredevil antics made him famous but alarmed his instructors.
- Critics accused the company of a daredevil strategy that could end in ruin.
- The documentary charted the rise and fall of Evel Knievel, the archetypal American daredevil.
- Her daredevil disregard for protocol initially shocked but ultimately revolutionised the staid department.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a 'devil' who 'dares' to do anything dangerous — a DARE-DEVIL.
Conceptual Metaphor
RECKLESSNESS IS A DEMONIC FORCE / THRILL-SEEKING IS A SUPERNATURAL ENTITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "черт" or "дьявол". The correct conceptual equivalents are "сорвиголова", "отчаянная голова", "смельчак", but note the connotation of recklessness, not just courage.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He daredeviled the jump' – INCORRECT).
- Confusing it with 'daring', which is less extreme and more positive.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'daredevil' correctly as an adjective?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is ambivalent. It can express admiration for skill and bravery, but often carries a critical note of recklessness and foolishness. Context determines the tone.
No. It is exclusively a noun or an adjective. The related verb is simply 'to dare'.
A hero's actions are typically for a noble cause (saving others). A daredevil's actions are primarily for personal thrill, spectacle, or challenge, and are inherently risky.
Yes. Historical and modern stunt performers like Harry Houdini, Evel Knievel, and contemporary extreme athletes are often labelled daredevils.
Explore